How to Get Fired by Blogging

I've seen numerous articles on how social networks such as Facebook and Myspace are a negative impact on a person's school or professional careers. There is some truth to that, if the person is a dumbass. Having a Myspace, Facebook and/or any blogging account comes with a certain responsibility. We choose what pictures we put on here, how much information we reveal about ourselves and the personality we put forth in our words. Myspace is about ME. Who would've thunk it? Despite popular belief, a person CAN have a Myspace (&Facebook or a blogging page) without it impacting his/her work environment.

Have you been Dooced? Dooce is a web blog of a woman who lost her job over said web blog. Why? Because she was writing in detail about things that were happening AT her job. THAT would be a big no-no. In her blog categories, she now has "Dooced" which holds all the blogs she wrote about her job before she was fired and HOW she got fired...and a couple anniversary pieces. I really would love for everyone to check it out. One of my favorites is "The Proper Way to Hate a Job"

Moving on...Here are a couple of ways to keep your privacy. Most of these are applicable to all/any online accounts you may have (Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, etc)

1) Don't use your real last name when signing up for Myspace.
2) Use an email address that was made up strictly for a Myspace account that no one else has.
3) Don't put your real name all over your page.
4) Don't list your actual company's name on your page.
5) Do not add any coworkers to your Myspace account.

Here are some ways to MAKE SURE that you get fired. No, really, these are fun.

1) Put your Myspace link in your signature for your work email. This way all your clients and your coworkers can keep up to date with your partying.
2) Write blogs about your job. This could be anything from how much you hate your coworkers to that confidential memo you got to the fact that you called in sick to have sex with your boyfriend all day. These will really impress your bosses.
3) Brag about how you spent the whole day watching Ugly Betty on ABC.com instead of working on that report for your boss.
4) Post pictures promoting how proud you are of your homosexuality when you work at a Catholic organization. Genius move there.
5) Exchange Myspace links with coworkers.
6) Take pictures of coworkers at their cubicles, coming out of the bathroom, picking their nose, picking a wedgie, etc on your Mypsace or better yet, in THEIR comments.

The internet is not private but you can make it as private as possible by being responsible. Don't let your words & actions on the internet be the end of your career.